Autumn Safety and Wellness To-Dos for Older Adults

August 25, 2022

The weather is growing cooler, the days are shorter and the anticipation for all things pumpkin is growing: Autumn is finally in the air! The third season of the year is called “the season of change” for good reason. As we adjust to the changes of autumn, it’s an ideal time to take action to ensure we and our homes are ready.

Autumn Prep Checklist

The following checklist will help you be prepared for the season:

Schedule pre-winter heating maintenance. Before cranking up the heat, schedule regular maintenance for heating systems to confirm they’re in good working order. If your home includes a fireplace, be sure to also have chimneys inspected and cleaned to prevent dangers like flue fires.

Control the internal temperature. Now is the time to adjust automatic thermostats to account for the season’s fluctuations in temperature.

Prepare for ice and snow. In cooler regions, it’s not unusual to get a preview of the cold, snowy and icy winter weather during the autumn months. Be sure to make shovels, car brushes, and salt accessible in the event of an early storm.

Ward off seasonal illnesses. The frequency and severity of sicknesses escalate this time of year. Washing your hands is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of fall illness. You can also help boost your immunity system during cold and flu season by staying hydrated.

Beware of falling leaves. Colorful leaves are part of the autumn’s beauty in many regions but they can present a safety hazard. When wet, they can become slippery and pose a fall risk. And piles of leaves can hide potentially dangerous obstacles. Be sure to remove them regularly from porches, sidewalks, and walkways.

Be sure you can detect danger. Fall is one of the critical times of the year for checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Change the batteries in these devices and test them to make sure they’re in good working order.

Get a Vision Check-Up. Many changes in vision only become apparent once the days get shorter and it gets darker earlier, providing a significantly greater risk during driving. A lot of vision problems have no symptoms, meaning you could have eye problems and not even be aware of it. If you haven’t had an eye exam yet this year, there’s no better time than now.

If you haven’t yet gone for an eye exam this year, MRTA and AMBA have great news. Our Vision Plan provides coverage for an annual WellVision exam, as well as big savings on glasses, lenses, frames, and more. You can enjoy generous out-of-network savings as well as even bigger savings with one of our thousands of in-network providers. Sign up now at www.AMBAdentalvision.com or call 866-979-0497.

 

 

Source: https://family.lovetoknow.com/fall-season-safety-tips

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